BA Social and Public Policy (Ethics and Justice) (with a year in industry)
About this course
BA (Hons) BA (Hons) Social and Public Policy (Ethics and Justice) (with a year in industry), a social policy degree examining social institutions, political theory, and normative questions. Core topics include Policy Analysis. The course includes an integrated year in industry for workplace experience and concludes with an independent study module in the final year. The first year establishes foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as Power, Policy and Social Progress, Contemporary Issues in Social and Public Policy, Power and Consent, and Ethics. The second year shifts towards empirical investigation and institutional analysis, featuring compulsory study in Policy Think Tank, Researching Policy and Society, Social Inequalities, and Knowledge and the Social Sciences alongside optional studies in areas like applied ethics and capitalism. The final year involves advanced independent research through the Independent Study Module and allows students to tailor their curriculum via optional modules spanning diverse topics such as welfare states, global social problems, bioethics, and environmental justice.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: BBB IB: 31 points overall BTEC: DDM We consider a range of BTEC qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels, or in combination with A Levels or other qualifications. For example: Distinction, Merit in BTEC Level 3 National Diploma plus B at A Level Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate plus BB at A level Distinction, Merit in 2 BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificates plus B at A level
What students say
Based on about 67 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 85%
- Learning opportunities: 79%
- Assessment and feedback: 71%
- Academic support: 87%
- Organisation and management: 76%
- Learning resources: 86%
- Student voice: 76%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 70 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 92%
- Left higher education: 6%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
What graduates do next
Based on about 54 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 64%
- Working and studying: 14%
- Further study: 13%
- Unemployed: 4%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 19%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 7%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 6%
- Sales occupations: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 70%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 43%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 255 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 8%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 30%
- East Midlands: 7%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 9%
- London: 25%
- South East: 10%
- South West: 1%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 90 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Power, Policy and Social Progress
- Contemporary Issues in Social and Public Policy
- Power and Consent
- Social Science and the Chocolate City
- Ethics
- Criminal Justice and Inequality
- Policy Think Tank
- Researching Policy and Society
- Social Inequalities
- Knowledge and the Social Sciences
- Capitalism and the Public Good
- Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
- Communities, Participation and Creating Change
- Crime and the Life Course
- Aristotle
- Applied Ethics
- Logic and Paradox
- Love, Law and Solidarity: Recognition from Rousseau to Honneth
- Metaphysics
- Politics and Freedom: Anarchism and Conservativism
- Religious Ethics
- Independent Study Module
- Drugs: Prevalence, Policy and Practice
- Welfare States and Economic Crises
- Housing and Homelessness: Overcoming Inequality
- Prisons and Penal Policy
- Wellbeing of Children and Young People
- Global Social Problems
- Stigma, Power & Resistance
- Crime and Justice in the Online Space
- Philosophy of Physics
- From Marx to Critical Theory
- Mind and Morality
- Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
- Experimental Philosophy: The Philosophy of Psychology
- Buddhism as Philosophy
- Philosophy of Christianity
- Vulnerability, Deviance and Social Control
- Social Policy, Crime and Criminal Justice
- Migration, Immigration and Social Policy
- Policing and the Police
- Gender, Violence and Justice
- Environmental Justice, Harm, and Policy
- Education Policy: Divisions & Inequalities
- Left Behind Places
- Foundations of Mathematics
- Further Topics in Ethics
- Consciousness
- Cognitive Anomalies, Decision-Making, and Democracy
- 9 Art Works, 9 Philosophical Problems
- Action and Agency
- German Idealism: Moral, Legal and Political Philosophy
- Experimental Philosophy: The Psychology of Philosophy
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Social and Public Policy (Ethics and Justice) (with a year in industry) at University of York earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £24,000 after 3 years, £29,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £23,500 and £36,000. The £29,000 median after five years is £1,500 more than the UK median for Social policy.
What do graduates of BA Social and Public Policy (Ethics and Justice) (with a year in industry) at University of York do next?
91% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Social and Public Policy (Ethics and Justice) (with a year in industry) at University of York?
85% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Social and Public Policy (Ethics and Justice) (with a year in industry) at University of York?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 31 points in the IB. The average entrant had 126 UCAS points.
Does BA Social and Public Policy (Ethics and Justice) (with a year in industry) at University of York include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory placement year.
How many students continue on BA Social and Public Policy (Ethics and Justice) (with a year in industry) at University of York?
92% of students continued into their second year, and 6% left higher education.